Lavatory shelf

ABSTRACT

A device comprising a shelf section and an attachment section. The attachment section is one of coupled and integrated with the shelving section and comprises a portion adapted to couple to a urinal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to lavatory devices. In particular, but not by way of limitation, the present inventions relates to a shelf adapted to couple to a urinal or other bathroom fixture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Urinals and toilets are frequently located in lavatories designed to quickly serve a large number of men. For example, urinals are often located in lavatories found at sporting arenas, convention centers, theaters, etc. Therefore, when entering a lavatory having a urinal at one of these, or other, locations, one is often carrying a beverage or a food item. It would be preferable to temporarily unload these items prior to using the urinal. It would also be preferable to provide a location to place the items that is near to the urinal so that the person using the urinal is able to keep track of the unloaded items. In providing a location for beverage (or other item) placement near a urinal, it may also be preferable to retrofit existing lavatories without damaging any existing lavatory fixtures or any other portion of the lavatory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention that are shown in the drawings are summarized below. These and other embodiments are more fully described in the Detailed Description section. It is to be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the forms described in this Summary of the Invention or in the Detailed Description. One skilled in the art can recognize that there are numerous modifications, equivalents, and alternative constructions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a device having at least one shelf section and at least one attachment section. The at least one attachment section is one of coupled and integrated with the at least one shelf section, and comprises a portion adapted to couple to a bathroom fixture.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises a bathroom fixture having a receptacle and piping coupled to the receptacle. The piping in such an embodiment comprises at least one attachment section and at least one shelf coupled and integrated perpendicularly to the attachment section.

Yet another embodiment of the invention comprises a method of creating a bathroom shelf. One method comprises coupling a shelving attachment section to a bathroom piping and coupling at least one shelf section to the shelving attachment section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION ON THE DRAWINGS

Various objects and advantages and a more complete understanding of the present invention are apparent and more readily appreciated by reference to the following Detailed Description and to the appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, where like or similar elements are designated with identical reference numerals throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first isometric view of a device comprising an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a second isometric view of a device comprising an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a bathroom fixture according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a bathroom fixture according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a bathroom fixture according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart that may be carried out in connection with the embodiments described herein;

FIG. 7 illustrates a device coupled to a bathroom fixture according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a device coupled to a bathroom fixture according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning first to FIG. 1, seen is a device 100 comprising a shelf section 110 and an attachment section 120. It is contemplated that the device 100 may comprise a bathroom device and may comprise a plurality of shelf sections 110 and/or attachment sections 120. As seen, the attachment section 120 may be coupled to the shelving section 100 through at least one coupling mechanism 130. A portion of the attachment section 120 may be adapted to couple to one or more bathroom fixtures. The coupling mechanism 130 shown in FIG. 1 is a bolting device. However, other coupling mechanisms known in the art such as, but not limited to, magnetic and/or adhesive coupling mechanisms are also contemplated. Furthermore, the attachment section 120 and the shelf section 110 may be integrated together as a single unitary piece.

In one embodiment, the attachment section 120 is adapted to couple to a bathroom fixture comprising a toilet or a urinal. For example, as seen in FIG. 2, the attachment section 220 may comprise a first section 205 and a second section 215. A first section distal end 201 may couple to a second section proximal end 211, with a bore 225 being created upon coupling the first section distal end 201 to the second section proximal end 211. One or more coupling mechanisms 230 may couple the first section 205 to the second section 215. For example, a first of the at least one coupling mechanism 230 may be adapted to couple the first section 205 to the second section 215 and a second of the at one coupling mechanisms 230 may be adapted to couple the attachment section 220 to the shelf section 215. Devices comprising additional bores 225 and/or bores 225 being created and/or located in different locations on the device 200 are also contemplated.

Returning now to FIG. 1, as seen, the shelf section 110 may comprise a width 140 and a length 150, with the length 150 being greater than the width 140 in one embodiment. However, the width 140 may also be greater than or substantially equal to, the length 150. A top surface 145 of the shelf section 110 may be substantially parallel with the floor to enable placement of beverages, food items, or other objects on the top surface 145 without the objects sliding off the shelf section 110. Though any size of width 140 and length 150 of the shelf section 110 is contemplated, in one embodiment the shelf section 110 may at least comprise a size adapted to receive at least one beverage container. For example a top surface 145 having a length 150 and a width 140 of about 5 inches is contemplated. In other embodiments, a larger top surface 145 is contemplated such, as, but not limited to, a width 140 of eight inches and a length 150 of sixteen inches. Other sizes and shapes are also contemplated. For example, the shape of the top surface 145 may comprise a shape of a sports team logo or a shape comprising an advertisement.

Similarly, as seen in FIG. 2, the attachment section 220 comprises at least one length 250 and a height 260. At least one of the at least one length 250 of the attachment section 220 may be substantially similar to the width 140 of the shelf section 110. Although a single length 250 is contemplated in one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 2, the attachment section 220 may also comprise a first length 250′ and a second length 250″ to enable one or more coupling mechanisms 230 to couple the attachment section 220 to the shelf section 210. In such an embodiment, and in others, a coupling mechanism 230 may be threaded through bores in the attachment section 220 and into threads in the shelf section 210, coupling the attachment section 220 to the shelf section 210. Greater number of lengths 250, as well as heights 260, length 150, and widths 140 are also contemplated, as are varying shapes and sizes. One range of sizes is from about 1 inch to about 24 inches. Furthermore, it is also contemplated that the thickness 170 of both the attachment section 120 and the shelf section 110 may be substantially similar, or may vary at one or more portions. One thickness range may comprise form about 0.25 in to about 3 in, depending on the material used for the device 200. However, other ranges are also contemplated. Materials known in the art such, as, but not limited to, polymeric, metal, composite, and wood are contemplated. In one embodiment comprising a metal device 200 a thickness of about 0.5 in is contemplated.

Although, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the attachment section 120, 220 may be coupled or integrated at or near a proximal end 135 of the shelf section 110, it is also contemplated that the attachment section 120 may be coupled or integrated at or near a center portion 155 and/or a distal end 165 of the shelf section 110. Furthermore, a longitudinal axis 180 of the shelf section 110 may be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 280 of the attachment section 120. However, alternative designs are also contemplated where the two axis are not perpendicular. Additionally, the attachment section 120 may couple to multiple locations on the shelf section 110.

Turning now to FIG. 3, seen is a bathroom fixture 302. One bathroom fixture 302 comprises a receptacle 304 and piping 306. A first end 312 of the piping 306 may be coupled to the receptacle 304 and the piping 306 may comprise at least one shelf 308. A second end 314 of the piping 306 may enter a bathroom structure 316 such as, but not limited to, a wall. The bathroom fixture 302 may further comprise a flushing mechanism 318 and the flushing mechanism 318 may be mechanically coupled to the piping 306. It is contemplated that the term piping 306 may also refer to a portion of a waterless urinal, as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. For example, the piping 306 may comprise the receptacle 704 or the fixture 706. Returning now to FIG., seen is a flushing mechanism 318 that may comprise a lever. However, other flushing mechanisms 318 such as, but not limited to, an infra-red flushing mechanism 318 are also contemplated. Multiple flushing mechanisms 318 may also be used.

As seen in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the at least one shelf 308 comprises an attachment section 320 and at least one removable shelf section 310. The attachment section 320 and at least one removable shelf section 310 may be similar to the attachment section 120, 220 and shelf section 110, 210 seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Additionally, the shelf section 310 may be a removable shelf section 310. For example, the shelf section 310 may be adapted to be easily removed from the attachment section 320. In one embodiment, the shelf section 310 may comprise a latching device that may comprise a lock, in order to lockably remove and/or couple the attachment section 320 to the shelf section 310. Upon unlocking and unhooking the latch, the shelf section 310 may be removed from the attachment section 320. This may allow a different shelf section 310 to be coupled to the attachment section 320. For example, different advertising campaigns included on the shelf section 310 may wish to be displayed, or, different shelf designs such as, but not limited to, a longer or wider shelf, or a shelf having multiple shelving tiers, may be desired to be coupled to the attachment section 320.

It is also contemplated that the receptacle 304 may comprise a urinal or may comprise a toilet. Where the bathroom fixture 302 comprises a toilet, the piping 306 may be located at such a distance from a user of the toilet that it may be inconvenient to place an item on a shelf section 310 as seen in FIG. 3. In such a case, the attachment section 320 may extend away from the piping 306 to enable a user of the toilet to place an item on the shelf section 310 when sitting on the toilet or standing and facing the piping 306 and without substantially bending at the waist to reach the shelf section 310. In one such embodiment, the attachment section 320 may comprise a length of about 1.5-5.5 feet. One attachment section 310 comprises a length of about 3.5 feet. It is also contemplated that the attachment section 320 may be a telescoping attachment section 320 adapted to extend to varying locking lengths as set by the user or as set by a person installing the attachment section 320, or others. Similarly, the shelf section 110 of FIG. 1 and/or the attachment section 120 may be adapted for installation into a building structure such as, but not limited to, a wall, or may be adapted to couple to the receptacle 304. One of these may be an embodiment employed in waterless urinals.

Seen in FIG. 4 is one embodiment of a bathroom fixture 402 having the shelf section 410 coupled to the attachment section 420 at a shelf section proximal end 435. Alternatively, in FIG. 3, the bathroom fixture 302 comprises a shelf section 310 coupled to the attachment section 320 at the shelf section center portion 355. Furthermore, although the shelf section 310 and attachment section 320 are shown in FIGS. 1-4 as comprising substantially perpendicular longitudinal axis comprising an “L” shape configuration or a “T” shape configuration, additional configurations comprising one or more additional shelf sections 310 and attachment sections 320 not including substantially perpendicular longitudinal axis are contemplated. For example, the attachment section 420 in FIG. 4 may create a 45° angle with the shelf section 410. Other angles are contemplated. In such embodiments, the top surface 145 of the shelf section, as seen in FIG. 1, may still be substantially parallel with the ground.

Turning now to FIG. 5, seen is one embodiment of a bathroom fixture 502 where the attachment section 520 is integrated to the piping 506. In such an embodiment, the shelf section 510 may be either integrated or coupled to the attachment section 520. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a bathroom fixture 502 may comprise a plurality of attachment sections 520 that may couple to one or more shelf sections 510. Likewise, a plurality of shelf section 510 may couple to one or more attachment sections 520.

Turning now to FIG. 6, seen in a method 609 of creating a bathroom shelf such as, but not limited to, the device 100, 200 seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and elsewhere, and the fixture 302 seen in FIG. 3 and elsewhere. The method starts at 619 and at 629 comprises one of coupling an integrating a shelving attachment section to a bathroom piping. One method 609 may comprise, with reference to FIG. 3, one of coupling and integrating the attachment section 320 to the piping 306. At 639, the method 609 comprises one of coupling and integrating at least one shelf section to the shelving attachment section. For example, step 639 may comprise one or coupling and integrating the attachment section 120 to the shelving section 110 of FIG. 1. At 649 the method ends.

Though not shown in FIG. 6, in one method 609, one of coupling and integrating the shelving attachment section 320 to the bathroom piping 306 may comprise coupling the shelving attachment section to a horizontal urinal pipe. Furthermore, one of coupling and integrating at least one shelf section 310 to the shelving attachment section 320 may comprise using one or more bolting devices to couple the shelving attachment section 320 to the at least one shelf section 310. Additionally, the at least one shelf section 310 may be coupled or integrated perpendicularly to the shelving attachment section 320. It is also contemplated that coupling or integrating the shelving attachment section 320 to the bathroom piping 306 may comprise creating the bathroom piping with an integrated shelving attachment section 320.

Turning now to FIGS. 7 and 8, seen is another embodiment of a device 700, 800 adapted to couple to a bathroom fixture 706, 806. The device 700, 800 seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 may comprise a device 700, 800 similar to the device 100, 200 seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, and may comprise a first section 705, 805 coupled to a second section 715, 815, with the fixture 706, 806 fitting with a bore in the device 700, 800, similar to the bore 225 seen in FIG. 2. The fixture 706, 806 seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 may comprise a fixture 706, 806 located in bathrooms converted from a receptacle 704 comprising water-urinal to a receptacle 704 comprising a waterless urinal. One such fixture 706, 806 may comprise a generally circular cap extending from the wall 716, 816.

In conclusion, embodiments of the present invention are related to bathroom devices. Those skilled in the art can readily recognize that numerous variations and substitutions may be made in the invention, its use and its configuration to achieve substantially the same results as achieved by the embodiments described herein. Accordingly, there is no intention to limit the invention to the disclosed exemplary forms. Many variations, modifications and alternative constructions fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosed invention as expressed in the claims. 

1) A device comprising, at least one shelf section comprising a shelf section longitudinal axis; and at least one attachment section comprising an attachment section longitudinal axis, wherein: the at least one attachment section is adapted to couple to a bathroom fixture, the at least one shelf section is removably coupled to the at least one attachment section without the at least one attachment section being removed from the bathroom fixture, the shelf section longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the attachment section longitudinal axis, the at least one shelf section is immobile relative to the at least one attachment section, and the at least one shelf section is positioned such that the at least one shelf section intersects the longitudinal axis of the at least one attachment section. 2) The device of claim 1 wherein, the bathroom fixture comprises one of, a toilet, and a urinal; and the attachment section comprises, a first section, a second section, and at least one coupling mechanism, a first of the at least one coupling mechanism coupling the first section to the second section, and a second of the at least one coupling mechanism coupling the attachment section to the shelf section. 3) The device of claim 2, wherein, the at least one coupling mechanism comprises at least one bolting device. 4) (canceled) 5) The device of claim 1 wherein, the at least one shelf section comprises a center portion; and the at least one attachment section is one of coupled and integrated to the center portion. 6) The device of claim 1 wherein, the at least one shelf section comprises a proximal end and a distal end; and the at least one attachment section is one of coupled and integrated to at least one of the proximal end and the distal end. 7) The device of claim 1 wherein, the at least one attachment section is adapted for use with a waterless urinal. 8) A bathroom fixture comprising, a receptacle; and piping coupled to the receptacle, wherein the piping comprises, at least one attachment section, and at least one shelf one of coupled and integrated to the attachment section at a forty-five degree angle and wherein, the at least one shelf section is immobile relative to the at least one attachment section, and the at least one shelf section is positioned such that the at least one shelf section intersects the longitudinal axis of the at least one attachment section. 9) The bathroom fixture of claim 8 further comprising, a flushing mechanism, the flushing mechanism being mechanically coupled to the piping. 10) (canceled) 11) The bathroom fixture of claim 10 wherein, the at least one removable shelf section comprises a plurality of shelf sections adapted to couple to one or more of the at least one attachment section. 12) The bathroom fixture of claim 10, wherein, the at least one attachment section is coupled to at least one of, a center portion, a distal end portion, and a proximal end portion of the at least one removable shelf section. 13) The bathroom fixture of claim 10, wherein, the piping comprises a portion or a waterless urinal. 14) A method of creating a bathroom shelf comprising, coupling a shelving attachment section to a bathroom piping; coupling at least one shelf section to the shelving attachment section such that the at least one shelf section is at a forty-five degree angle to the shelving attachment section; positioning the at least one shelf section such that the at least one shelf section is horizontal and intersects a longitudinal axis of the at least one shelving attachment section; fixing the at least one shelf section to the at least one shelving attachment section such that the at least one shelf section is immobile relative to the at least one shelving attachment section; and removing the at least one shelf section from the at least one shelving attachment section without removing the shelving attachment section from the bathroom piping. 15) The method of claim 14, wherein, coupling a shelving attachment section to a bathroom piping comprises, placing a first section of the shelving attachment section proximal a horizontal urinal pipe; placing a second section of the shelving attachment section proximal a horizontal urinal pipe; placing the horizontal urinal pipe in a bore between the first section of the shelving attachment section and the second section of the shelving attachment section; and coupling the shelving attachment section to the horizontal urinal pipe. 16) The method of claim 14, wherein, coupling at least one shelf section to the shelving attachment section comprises using one or more bolting devices to couple the shelving attachment section to the at least one shelf section. 17) (canceled) 18) The method of claim 14 wherein, coupling a shelving attachment section to a bathroom piping comprises creating bathroom piping having an integrated shelving attachment section. 19) The method of claim 14 wherein, coupling at least one shelf section to the shelving attachment section comprises coupling a plurality of shelf sections to a plurality of shelving attachment sections, each of the plurality of shelf sections coupling to at least one shelving attachment section. 20) The method of claim 14, further comprising, placing an advertisement on the bathroom shelf. 21) The device of claim 1 wherein, the attachment section comprises a telescoping attachment section. 